I certainly do not want to see higher energy bills.
However, what are the alternatives to what is proposed? We need to produce more electricity to meet growing demands, and it has to be paid for. Who else can pay for it other than the consumer who uses the energy.
As for the 'green' tag, well should we go back to coal power stations beltching out toxic fumes as we had as children in the 1940s/50s, and even town gas works gushing out sulphuric gases?
Building nuclear power stations, that I personally favour, is very expensive and we the consumer have to pay for it like we pay for everything else we gobble up.
Free energy is a thing of fantasy, with someone having to pay for the development and production costs. The alternative is we stop using energy like there is no tomorrow, and cut out non-essential appliances that I have seen multiply tremendously since my childhood. I suspect though that would not be very popular and practical!!

So, what is the alternative apart from leaving the planet?